Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Mixed ability musical group from S. Korea gives concert in Israel

From NTD News in Israel:

Kyungmin Kim suffers from cerebral palsy, but he has never given up on his dream to become a pianist.

[Il Hwan Bai, Director, “Beautiful Mind Charity” Ensemble]:
“At first he played with his fists because he couldn’t really control his fingers. But he practiced for over two years and finally he got his fingers kind of a little bit controlled.”

The pianist came from South Korea with his fellow musicians of the "Beautiful Mind Charity" ensemble. The ensemble is composed of world class musicians both with and without disabilities.

[Il Hwan Bai, Director, “Beautiful Mind Charity” Ensemble]:
“Beautiful Mind Charity ensemble is a diplomatic philanthropic organization. So far we have toured over 30 countries and gave 70 concerts sharing love through music. Because we believe that love with music can touch people’s hearts beyond any boundaries, any religion or any culture.”

The South Korean Ambassador to Israel, who is hosting this event, believes that such actions can have a meaningful impact.

[Young Sam Ma, S.Korean Ambassador in Israel]:
“We want to promote peace and the stability and also music and friendship with the Israeli people and the Palestine people. We think that music can promote peace, sports can promote peace as we’ve witnessed in the past.”

The executive director of the ensemble says he feels very grateful for having been given this opportunity to teach disabled people.

[Il Hwan Bai, Director, “Beautiful Mind Charity” Ensemble]:
“Teaching disabled musicians, disabled students, requires a lot of patience but we, as teachers, receive more love from them and we learn many other things from them.”

Jean Judes is the Manager of the “Issie Shapiro House,” an organization working on improving the life of people with disabilities in Israel.

[Jean Judes, CEO, Issie Shapiro House]:
“I believe we have all understood tonight that in the heart of the word 'disability' lies the word 'ability.' Every person has abilities.”